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The Importance of Platforms to Achieve Digital Maturity

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Information Systems (EMCIS 2022)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ((LNBIP,volume 464))

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Abstract

An important “building block” for an organization’s digital maturity seems to be the implementation of platforms. In general, platforms as software or hardware infrastructures through which users and organizations can create applications, services, and communities, can trigger so-called network effects. These effects act as a catalyst for the organization’s digital maturity, by positively impacting key factors such as IT infrastructure, collaboration or innovation within the firm. The importance of implementing platforms for organizations pursuing the goal of raising their digital maturity is thus widely accepted. However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the type of platforms that is beneficial for an organization’s desired digital transformation. Based on the qualitative content analysis of 24 Digital maturity models (DMMs) that are frameworks prescribing key elements and a model path for an organization’s digital maturity, we establish a first comprehensive overview of ten different platform types relevant for digital maturity. The most prominent types are: IT-Infrastructure, collaboration, and value chain platforms. Using an established framework, we were able to classify the differing platform concepts into “platforms with selectively open interfaces” and “platforms with N-sided market infrastructures”. Based on these insights, we derive a first working definition of the term platform in the context of digital maturity. We thus contribute to the advancement of both research fields and their overlap. Furthermore, we offer managers guidance in the interpretation and application of DMMs – in due consideration of different platform types.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ESCP Business School Berlin, Heubnerweg 8-10, 14059, Berlin, Germany

    Tristan Thordsen & Markus Bick

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  1. Tristan Thordsen
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  2. Markus Bick
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Correspondence to Tristan Thordsen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. British University in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Maria Papadaki

  2. University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Paulo Rupino da Cunha

  3. University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Marinos Themistocleous

  4. University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Klitos Christodoulou

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Thordsen, T., Bick, M. (2023). The Importance of Platforms to Achieve Digital Maturity. In: Papadaki, M., Rupino da Cunha, P., Themistocleous, M., Christodoulou, K. (eds) Information Systems. EMCIS 2022. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 464. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30694-5_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30694-5_25

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